Cordoba, Argentina - In the city of Alta Gracia, located in the Córdoba province of Argentina, visitors to the chapel of the Our Lady of Lourdes shrine witness an inexplicable phenomenon: above the altar, within the niche of the altarpiece, an image of the Virgin Mary appears, despite the space being visibly empty.

As reported by the Argentine news agency AICA, the observed image is not flat but rather a three-dimensional relief with discernible folds in the garment. Importantly, this is not a subjective psychological illusion influenced by the fervor of pilgrims; rather, it is a phenomenon visible to all, believers and non-believers alike. Furthermore, the image is captured in photographs taken within the chapel.

Curiously, the image is distinctly visible from the front entrance of the church but gradually fades as one approaches the altar.

Representatives from the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Alta Gracia, speaking to ACI Prensa, confirmed that despite no official statement from the Archdiocese of Córdoba, the phenomenon persists unchanged.

Since its construction in the early 20th century, the shrine has attracted significant numbers of pilgrims, with approximately 30,000 pilgrims traveling from the city of Córdoba, located 22 miles away, in 2023 alone.

In a Mass held on Feb. 11 last year to mark the World Day of the Sick, Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, the archbishop of Córdoba, reflected on the significance of illness and weakness in human life.

Masses were conducted this year on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11 for faithful participants of the 47th pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Various services were held throughout the day, including a midnight Mass, a sunrise rosary, and multiple Masses catering to different groups of pilgrims.

The origins of the phenomenon trace back to the chapel's establishment on a property where a replica of the Massabielle grotto in Lourdes, France, was dedicated in 1916. This grotto is where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.

In 1922, a commission was formed to build a chapel near the grotto, and after several years of construction, the chapel was blessed by the bishop of Córdoba in 1927. Initially, a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes of Córdoba stood at the center of the church's altarpiece, but it was later removed for restoration in mid-2011.

It was during this restoration period that the phenomenon occurred. A priest, while closing the chapel one day, observed what appeared to be an image of the Virgin Mary in the empty niche above the altar. Despite repeated approaches, the image would fade as he drew nearer, revealing that there was no physical image present.

In response to the phenomenon, the discalced Carmelite friars of the shrine issued a statement in 2011 acknowledging its inexplicability. They interpreted it as a sign for believers to deepen their faith and embrace conversion to God's love, emphasizing that the Virgin's message remains consistent with Gospel teachings and the Catholic faith.

-CNA/NCR